Do you prefer your songs short and catchy, or sprawling and immersive? Musical tastes vary widely, and so does our ideal song length. Just as some listeners enjoy concise, punchy tracks, others are drawn to extended musical journeys. This difference in preference naturally leads to curiosity: just how long can a song actually be? If you’ve ever pondered this question, you’re in the right place. We’ve delved into the world of music to uncover some of the most exceptionally long songs ever created, exploring the fascinating history and evolution of musical length.
A Brief History of Song Length: From Vinyl Limits to Digital Freedom
Today, the average pop song hovers around three and a half minutes, a length often considered the industry sweet spot. Songs exceeding this duration sometimes risk losing listener engagement, potentially perceived as self-indulgent or repetitive. But where did this roughly three-minute standard originate? The answer lies in the history of music recording technology.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the flat disc record, known as the “78,” dominated the music industry. Named for its 78 revolutions per minute, this format had a significant limitation: storage capacity. Depending on the disc’s size, a “78” could only hold approximately three to four minutes of audio. This physical constraint heavily influenced song length.
The 1950s saw the introduction of the 45-rpm record, quickly rendering the “78” obsolete. While superior in audio quality and durability, the 45-rpm initially maintained a similar time limit – around three minutes per side, depending on the song’s sound range. For artists aiming for radio airplay, the 45 was the essential format. (Fun fact: This is where the term “single” comes from, referring to a record with a single song on each side.)
The 45 record became foundational to popular music, offering affordability and ease of distribution. Many iconic British Invasion, R&B, Motown, and early rock and roll hits were released as 45s, including singles from Elvis Presley, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Pink Floyd. (Interesting note: Even during this era of short singles, artists like Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Rush, Pink Floyd, and Jimi Hendrix were creating longer, album-oriented tracks, some exceeding ten minutes.)
As technology progressed beyond 78s and 45s, with the advent of digital media and ample cloud storage, the technical restrictions on song length vanished. Theoretically, artists now have the freedom to create songs of virtually any duration. However, the three-minute song remains prevalent, and in some genres, songs are even getting shorter. This trend is likely influenced by the rise of music streaming and the culture of instant online gratification, potentially leading to shorter attention spans and a preference for quickly digestible content.
Exploring the Extremes: What Qualifies as a “Long Song”?
The concept of the “longest song ever” is subjective and depends on the criteria. Are we talking about officially recorded songs, conceptual compositions, or songs that have achieved mainstream recognition? From tracks clocking in at over five years, to compositions playing continuously for centuries, to Billboard chart entries exceeding ten minutes, the spectrum of “long songs” is remarkably diverse and fascinating.
(Friendly disclaimer: Prepare to be amazed. The lengths of some of the songs we’re about to explore are truly astonishing!) Ready to have your perception of song length redefined? Let’s dive into some of the longest songs ever conceived.
Officially Recorded: The Longest Song in Guinness World Records
The official title for the “longest song ever recorded” belongs to The Rise and Fall of Bossanova by PC III, a duo from the United States. According to Guinness World Records, Kelley and Michael Bostwick, the artists behind PC III, surpassed the previous record by an astounding ten hours. Released in November 2016, this track stretches for a staggering 13 hours, 23 minutes, and 32 seconds, and currently holds the official record.
PC III longest song ever recorded
While a song playing non-stop from 6:00 AM to 7:23 PM is undeniably impressive, it pales in comparison to some “unofficially released” compositions in terms of sheer length.
Unofficial Champion: The Longest Song of All Time
While PC III holds the official record for “longest song ever recorded,” the title for the absolute “longest song ever” arguably belongs to Bull of Heaven‘s Like a Wall in Which an Insect Lives and Gnaws.
Prepare yourself: this song is an incredible 5 years, 258 days, and 8 hours long. Yes, you read that correctly – over five years of continuous playback for a single track! Imagining a music video for this song pushes the boundaries of conceptual art. It’s doubtful anyone has listened to the entire song in one sitting, but its existence is a testament to extreme musical exploration.
Bull of Heaven, comprised of Clayton Counts and Neil Keener, is known for pushing the limits of song duration. They have been creating exceptionally long pieces since 2008. Other notable examples from their discography include 116: Rituals of the Elements and Feasts of the Times and 043: He Is Cruel and Moves with Great Cunning, clocking in at over four days and thirteen hours respectively.
Century-Spanning Composition: The Longest Running Song
Did you know there’s a musical composition, known as Longplayer, that has been playing continuously, without repetition, since the dawn of the 21st century?
On December 31, 1999, Longplayer, composed by Jem Finer, began playing in a lighthouse in Trinity Buoy Wharf in London, and it will continue uninterrupted until the year 2999, completing a full thousand-year cycle. This is a song designed to play across an entire millennium, spanning over thirty generations of listeners.
Longplayer is the result of extensive research into musical systems and algorithms. It is built from six musical sections derived from Tibetan singing bowls, manipulated by computer algorithm to create constantly evolving sonic textures. These algorithms are structured to ensure that Longplayer will never repeat the same musical sequence within its 1000-year duration. It is a unique fusion of music, mathematics, and conceptual art. More information can be found at longplayer.org.
Billboard Recognition: Longest Charting Song on the Hot 100
While we’ve explored songs of immense and conceptual lengths, what about long songs that have achieved mainstream chart success? Which exceptionally long tracks have been popular enough to climb the Billboard charts?
According to Guinness World Records, the title of the “longest song ever to enter the Billboard Hot 100” belongs to Fear Inoculum by Tool. Released in August 2019, this track clocks in at 10 minutes and 21 seconds. In a world of day-long compositions, ten minutes might seem short, but in the context of the Billboard Hot 100, dominated by shorter, radio-friendly tracks, it’s a significant achievement. Especially considering the trend towards shorter songs in the streaming era, Fear Inoculum‘s chart success is noteworthy.
Previously, the record for the longest Billboard Hot 100 song was held by David Bowie’s 2016 hit, Blackstar, which ran for 9 minutes and 57 seconds. Tool surpassed Bowie, with Fear Inoculum debuting on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 93. Despite breaking the record for Billboard length, Fear Inoculum was actually the second shortest song on Tool’s album of the same name.
The Outer Limits of Length: The Bizarre 24-Hour Song
What if you were told about an experimental rock band that created a 24-hour long song? Perhaps not as shocking after the five-year track, right? However, the experimental psychedelic band The Flaming Lips released their 24-hour song, 7 Skies H3, in a particularly unusual manner in 2011.
Believe it or not, this day-long track was sold on USB drives encased in actual human skulls. Not Halloween decorations – genuine human skulls. Truly bizarre! Only five copies were made, each sold for $5,000, and they sold out instantly, highlighting the band’s dedicated and adventurous fanbase.
Popular Long Songs: Length and Mainstream Appeal
Returning to slightly more conventional territory, here are some examples of popular long songs that have resonated with wider audiences:
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“Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Iron Maiden (13:39): Transforming an epic 18th-century poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge into a 13-minute heavy metal anthem is a bold move, and Iron Maiden pulled it off spectacularly. “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” has become a fan favorite and a staple of their live performances.
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“Shine On You Crazy Diamond” by Pink Floyd (26:01): This sprawling, multi-part epic is a poignant tribute to Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd’s former frontman. Originally appearing on the Wish You Were Here album, “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” is a classic example of progressive rock’s embrace of extended song formats.
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“Coma” by Guns N’ Roses (10:16): Guns N’ Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke described “Coma” as “easily the band’s hardest song to grasp.” This complex and dynamic track, clocking in at over ten minutes with no repeating sections, is a deep cut from Use Your Illusion I.
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“Dogs” by Pink Floyd (17:05): Originally written by David Gilmour in 1974 and initially titled “You Gotta Be Crazy,” “Dogs” appeared on Pink Floyd’s Animals album. It’s a powerful and cynical track, showcasing the band’s signature blend of musicality and lyrical depth.
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“In My Time of Dying” by Led Zeppelin (11:06): No discussion of long songs would be complete without mentioning Led Zeppelin. Their rendition of the traditional gospel blues song, “In My Time of Dying,” from the Physical Graffiti album, is an eleven-minute blues-rock tour-de-force, demonstrating their improvisational prowess and musical range.
These songs demonstrate that while shorter tracks often dominate the charts and airwaves, there is a significant and enduring appreciation for longer, more musically expansive compositions across various genres. The definition of “longest song ever” may be multifaceted, but the exploration of musical length reveals a fascinating spectrum of creativity and artistic ambition.
